Nashua high school students to receive class schedules by August 18

TINA FORBES

Staff Writer

Nashua high school students can expect to receive their class schedules before heading back to school later this month. Parents and students should have a five-day window of time to meet with the guidance department and add or drop courses.

The issue came up at Thursday’s special budget Board of Education meeting. Board clerk Kimberly Muise asked about the status of the delayed schedules since she has been hearing concerns from parents. ...
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Nashua high school students can expect to receive their class schedules before heading back to school later this month. Parents and students should have a five-day window of time to meet with the guidance department and add or drop courses.

The issue came up at Thursday’s special budget Board of Education meeting. Board clerk Kimberly Muise asked about the status of the delayed schedules since she has been hearing concerns from parents.

“We’re continuing on the process of building schedules; parents and students won’t have them when they pick up their packets and IDs … but they will have them prior to the start of school,” Superintendent Mark Conrad said.

Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Seusing said the delay was due in part to the recent changeover in the guidance department.

She said it’s a “brand-new crew” working on the scheduling. The job used to be done by the guidance director and her assistant, both of whom left the district, said Seusing.

She said there has not been a problem with the new scheduling software. The delay was more about the staff becoming familiar with it.

Seusing said both high schools are set to have the schedules ready by August 18. “It’s behind where it normally is, because of the transition, but it’s going at a good pace,” she said.

“The guidance counselors will be able to review the schedules next week … to take care of any problems,” Seusing said.

Muise said there is typically an influx in the guidance department after schedules come out. She said parents have contacted her with concerns about having the opportunity to meet with guidance counselors to make desired changes. There is typically a five-day window for students to change classes, but considering the late release of schedules, Muise asked whether students should be allowed more time.

“We’ll play it by ear and see how it goes,” Seusing said. Ideally, all students will be settled in their schedule within the typical five days, she said.

“The further you get into the semester, the more you’ve missed the beginning days,” Conrad said.

To prevent problems building schedules in the future, Seusing said, there’s a designated team working on the scheduling process and time-line.

“We’ve changed up the process for add/drop class, you won’t be able to change on a whim, students will have to fill out a form,” she said. “The two new guidance directors have addressed changing the time line. The team will help with personnel decisions, what teachers need to move where,” she said.

Tina Forbes can be reached at 594-6402 or tforbes@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow Forbes on Twitter (@Telegraph_TinaF).